93 dodge rack d350. I'm picking up some tree rounds for firewood. I want to fill truck up but don't want to overload either.
How do I gauge how much is enough in that truck?
I have leaf helpers too. What do I look for when loading?

Tx all

 

I would load it till you had a little gap between the rear axle and there bumpers, it also depends on how far you have to drive, its better to make a couple of trip with less weight, than fill it too the max and burn out some bearings or brakes

 

I agree! Depending on how much you are getting multiple trips would probably be safest. If that is not possible you can also measure from top of wheel well to ground and load it until it squats about 3 to 4 inches.

This is 2500 pounds of sugar in my bed and it squatted about 5-6 inches. And I only had to drive about a mile.
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holy crap Rockcrawler, that must be one big kettle of moonshine you got brewing in the woods. Lol

 

Shhhhh!!!

I used to work for a food manufacturing company and it was a Friday and the warehouse guys left for the day and we needed this to keep running. I was the only one with a truck capable of getting this!!

 

Gosh guys. On two occasions I've loaded almost two tons in my bed (once with riprap, once wth topsoil) and driven at highway speeds for a number of miles. I just threw air to the Keldermans until the truck leveled out and appeared legal and put 85psi is the E-class tires. I never had a problem, touch wood. I figure the primary reason I tolerate a truck that rides like a haywagon (i.e., a First Gen Dodge) is because the thing can haul some weight when I need it to.

 

i regularly haul 400 gallons of water and 70 gallons of fuel. 3200lbs of water, plus the container, probally 100. 500lbs of fuel and my 200 pound transfer tank. does just fine, and the roads here are terrible. its also about getting to know your truck and the condition its in.

 

The ATF will never buy that story, better have a plan 'B'. crossy

 

Using just the bed, with no rack or anything of the sort, I don't think one could load enough firewood on to overload a 1st gen.

Just my opinion.

 

I agree. I can heap mine and be fine. If the wood is fresh and green that may be a slightly different story.

Stopping is all I ever worry about when loading. That's the weak link.

 

When I had the cap on I loaded my 250 with split wood to the ceiling of the cap, side rail to side rail. I had to run 3 hrs on the highway in 90+ heat. It'll do fine. If you have some rounds that are particularly heavy make sure to load them as close to the front axle as possible. That load of sugar would have been no issue at all if the forklift operator put it over or In front of the rear axle.
Proper tire inflation is an absolute must!

 

I have a couple of D350's. You can't get enough firewood, even wet green oak on them to make them sweat.

The work truck (Minnesota cheezy salt modified body) has had 2 yard loads of class 1 on it many times.

I put ambulance brakes on the one I use to haul the recreation double. Stopping is no problem either. PacBrake keeps the wheel brakes cool on the long downgrades.

Like he^ said, make sure the tires are in good shape and properly inflated.

The rims are good for about D range tires. Over 60 lbs is dangerous in a rim not designed for it. If a rim splits out, it can do a lot of damage.

 

all good SAFETY points to think about. ,also there were MANY different spring packages offered , but i know i have had 3000 lbs. in the back of my 3/4 ton truck. They had good rear springs . I have parted out many a first gen and have only seen one broken one. The sure ride better with a big load :-) , Crossy

 

Ambulance brakes? Tell us more...

 

I still own the OEM rims from when my dad bought my truck new. They are very heavy steel and came with bolted-in metal high pressure valve stems. I'd be stunned if those things were rated for any less than 100psi.

Agreed. And DO NOT forget to use high-pressure valve stems. I run 65psi even when unloaded and a couple of summers ago I lost a valve stem at about 50mph on a 96 degree day. Fortunately I was running empty and the failure was sufficiently rapid that I didn't ruin the tire. But tire shops will not utilize high-pressure stems unless you request them.